OT: Help tracing source of e-mail

[Zz Yzx]

To all you computer/internet experts in the wreck:

I received an e-mail from a unknown sender today that I found very unsettling. There was nothing in it that I could consider "abusive" so I could file an abuse report, but I'd still like to track down and identify the sender.

I searched all the IP addresses in the header on the WHOIS database, and found it orginated from google. The were several other IP addresses listed, including one for Inktomi, IANA, and my ISP.

Is there any way to identify a sender with this information? Can I track them down through Google or my ISP? Can any of you recommend a source of additional information ?

Thanks a heap,

-Zz

[Maxwell Lol]

You have to go from your mail server, and trace back from there. Since the machines usually add a Received-By: line on top of all existing ones, your server is usually listed first.

However, once you leave your server, you are dependent upon the accuracy of the next mail server. And if they lie, you have a hard time telling.

Years ago I used spamcop to analyze mail, but I haven't kept up. Essentially you look for inconsistencies. But if you have traced it back to google/gmail, there is little you can do unless you get a subpoena.

They don't care about mail abuse.